We must gain time, Grelieu. By the power of all our lives, thrown in the fields, we cannot stop them. _Stamping his foot._ Time, time! We must steal from fate a small part of eternity--a few days, a week! They are hastening to us. The Russians are coming to us from the East. The German steel has already penetrated to the heart of the French land--and infuriated with pain, the French eagle is rising over the Germans' bayonets and is coming toward us! The noble knights of the sea--the British--are already rushing toward us, and to Belgium are their powerful arms stretched out over the abyss. But, time, time! Give us time, Grelieu. Belgium is praying for a few days, for a few hours! You have already given to Belgium your blood, Grelieu, and you have the right to lift your hand against your blood-stained fatherland! _Brief pause._ EMIL GRELIEU We must break the dams. _Curtain_ SCENE V _Night. A small house occupied by the German staff. A sentinel on guard at the door leading to the rooms occupied by the Commander of the army. All the doors and windows are open. The room is illuminated with candles. Two officers on duty are talking lazily, suffering apparently from the heat. All is quiet in the camp. Only from time to time the measured footsteps of pickets are heard, and muffled voices and angry exclamations._ VON RITZAU Do you feel sleepy, von Stein? VON STEIN I don't feel sleepy, but I feel like smoking. RITZAU A bad habit! But you may smoke near the window. STEIN But what if _he_ should come in? Thank you, von Ritzau. What a stifling night! Not a breath of pure air enters the lungs. The air is poisoned with the smell of smoke. We must invent something against this obnoxious odor. Take it up, Ritzau. RITZAU I am not an inventor. First of all it is necessary to wring out the air as they wring the clothes they wash, and dry it in the sun. It is so moist, I feel as though I were diving in it. Do you know whether _he_ is in a good mood today? STEIN Why, is he subject to moods, good or bad? RITZAU Great self-restraint! STEIN Have you ever seen him undressed--or half-dressed? Or have you ever seen his hair in disorder? He is a wonderful old man! RITZAU He speaks so devilishly little, Stein. STEIN He prefers to have his cannon speak. It is quite a powerful voice, isn't it, Ritzau? _They laugh softly. A tall, handsome officer enters quickly and goes toward the door leading to the room of the Commander._ Blumenfeld! Any news? _The tall officer waves his hand and opens the door cautiously, ready to make his bow._ He is malting his career! RITZAU He is a good fellow. I can't bear it, Stein. I am suffocating here. STEIN Would you rather be in Paris? RITZAU I would prefer any less unbearable country to this. How dull it must be here in the winter time. STEIN But we have saved them from dullness for a long time to come. Were you ever in the Montmartre cafés, Ritzau? RITZAU Of course! STEIN